The shape of an object is a closed curve that bounds the object. This curve is named outline.
ElFourier works with vectorized outines. They are the curves which consist of short linear segments connected with each other.
To create a vector outline, you need to load the object image into any vecor editor, trace it by Bezier curves, and save result as a separate SVG.
ElFourier reads SVG file with the vector outline of an object. One file must contain only one outline, the others program ignores.
Open as many SVG files as you need. ElFourier can simultaneously works with many outlines.
Harmonics are the numbers which describe geometric features of a two-dimensional object.
Harmonics of different shapes are unique and differ from each other. If we compare harmonics using multidimensional statistical methods, we will learn how the shapes differ.
The number of harmonics influences on the reconstructed outline.
The more harmonics you use, the less the difference between the restored and the original outlines. However you can also compare shapes using a small number of harmonics.
To reliable compare outlines, it is necessary to make the signs of the identical components of the first harmonics equal.
you must: equally arrange their sides, identically orient them, place starting points of outlines in the same positions.
Mirror and rotate outlines to identically arrange their sides.
Relocate starting points to place them in the same positions.
Change outlines orientation to identically orient them all.
Take series of harmonics, corresponded to compared shapes, and apply: principal components analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, neural network classificator or another classification method that you prefer.
Program finds harmonics that are independent to the object position, rotation, and sizes.
When program opens an outline, it aligns it along a vertical axis.
It highlight table cells with a negative components of harmonics.
It draws the silhouette of the original shape and a restored outline over it.
It paints outlines oriented counterclockwise.